The 11 U.S. Towns With the Most Badass Names

by Sam Greenspanlast updated March 22, 2018 · originally written September 21, 2016

Some towns are just more hardcore than others.

I’ve never lived in a place with a badass name. I grew up in towns called University Heights and Beachwood. Here in Los Angeles I’ve lived in places like Venice (named after Italy), Redondo Beach (“round beach”) and El Segundo (“the second,” since the second big Chevron plant was founded there). Not particularly intimidating.

Not like the places on this list — badass names all around. Not that “badass name” is really a top consideration for moving some place, but hey, meaningless accolades are still accolades.

Check ’em out…

11 | Warrior, Alabama

My mind immediately goes to the Ultimate Warrior. And while I’m doubtful the people of Alabama named their town after him (it’s more NWA country down there, Fabulous Freebirds and such), they really could’ve cashed in with merchandise during the ’90s.

10 | Deadman Crossing, Ohio and Dead Women Crossing, Oklahoma

Deadman Crossing feels like a standard badass town name, if not almost perfunctory. Dead Women Crossing is far more ominous and unsettling.

9 | Beer Bottle Crossing, Idaho

Anyone could yield for those dead man/woman zombies crossing the street in Ohio or Oklahoma. But it’s slightly more badass to yield for a beer bottle crossing the street.

8 | Bad Axe, Michigan

Perhaps designating Bad Axe as “badass” is a little too on the nose, but I’ve lived my life through wordplay and I’m not backing down at this point.

7 | Dragonville, Virginia

I assume there are no dragons in Dragonville. Can you sue a town for false advertising? I mean, anyone can sue anyone over anything, right?

6 | Rough and Ready, California

There’s such a fine line between that gritty frontier spirit and a gay porn title.

5 | Slaughterville, Oklahoma

Fortunately, the town got its name from a local grocery store run by a guy named James Slaughter and NOT, as I feared, from some horrible atrocity. Thanks for that, Oklahoma.

4 | Frankenstein, Missouri

It’s good to see monsters inspiring town names. Outside of this town, the most prominent entity inspired by a legendary creature was the Bigfoot monster truck. (Or maybe my Yeti microphone?)

3 | Scarface, California

Scarface is in the northeast tip of California and named after a local Native American chief who led the Modoc tribe in battle against the U.S. Army. And with all due respect to the accomplishments of a fictional character, that’s more hardcore than Tony Montana.

2 | Castle Danger, Minnesota

Any town with a name that sounds like it comes from an unapologetically over-the-top ’80s cartoon is good by me.